Pre-school deputy head Dawn Rigby is one of the first group to graduateas an Early Years Professional through the long extended professionaldevelopment pathway, which lasts for 15 months. She is upbeat about howthis builds confidence in its participants.
'Because it was the long pathway I knew it would have its ownchallenges, but I felt it would be good for me personally,' she says.'With the focus very much on the 39 standards, it is down to theparticipants to relate these back to their own settings and practice. Wewere encouraged to scrutinise our weaknesses and strengths and find wayswithin the standards to address these.'
For Ms Rigby, the leadership aspect of the course has influenced herpractice the most. 'Unlike many other courses and qualifications whichare based on how you develop skills to use personally, this is about howyou relate those skills to lead and mentor others.
'I put together a handbook for two new staff members in my setting whichwas designed to help them fit in and address specific areas in oursetting, such as planning. I also looked at ways to work with staffinformally.'
New graduate Cathy Coles felt that the 15-month pathway was thepreferable option for her, providing the opportunity to tackle a widerange of assignments.
'I'd done a foundation degree a couple of years previously, and as themanager of my setting I felt it was really important to get on boardwith EYP to make sure it was secure in the future,' she says.
'I welcomed the opportunity to explore areas such as attachment, which Inow have a deeper understanding of and can relate more closely topractice.
'But for me the professional development side of the course wasinvaluable. It has given me the confidence to strengthen ourpre-school's in-house training and also extend training into the localcommunity. I've recently done training in our local community centrewith childminders, centring on holistic care and treasure baskets'.
Dawn Rigby corroborates that the EYP course has also inspired her todevelop training. 'Everything I learned on the course, I have beenfeeding back into my own pre-school. But I would also like to expandthis and share it with other settings in the future.'
Pathways to becoming an EYP
Depending on experience, candidates who have a degree or equivalent areeligible for:
- Four-month validation programme
- Short extended professional development (EPD) pathway, lasting sixmonths, part-time
- Full training pathway, 12 months full-time
Those with an early years foundation degree (level 5) or equivalent areeligible for the long EPD pathway, which lasts 15 months
- For details go to www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/eyps.
